Connecticut Space Grant Consortium2015-07-31T20:26:50Zhttp://ctspacegrant.org/feed/atomadminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=24232015-07-31T20:26:50Z2015-07-31T20:22:18ZNASA’s latest Research Announcement (NRA) titled “Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO)” solicits research in support of the administration’s Human Research Program (HRP). The HRP contains various elements and disciplines concerning human health and space exploration, and is partnered through a Cooperative Agreement with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). More detailed information on this opportunity below:

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is a non-profit organization competitively selected by NASA that uses an integrated team approach to advance biomedical research and countermeasure development. NSBRI works in close partnership with the HRP through a Cooperative Agreement. The NRA will cover all aspects of research to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration, and to ensure safe and productive human spaceflight.

Awards generally range from under $100K per year for focused, limited efforts (e.g., data analysis) to $450K per year for extensive activities (e.g., development of scientific hardware). The funds available for awards in each program element offered in the NRA range from less than one to several million dollars, which allow selection from a few to as many as a dozen proposals depending on the program objectives and the submission of proposals of merit. Awards will be made as grants. The period of performance for an award will be one to five years. Any changes or modifications to any of these guidelines will be specified in the descriptions of the relevant program elements in the solicited research response area appendices of this solicitation.

Details of the solicited research opportunities will be given in the solicited research response area appendices of the NRA. Most research opportunities will use a two-step proposal submission process though some research opportunities may use a one-step submission process.

Proposal due dates will be staggered throughout the HERO open period of July 31, 2015 to July 2016. The first proposal due date is September 4, 2015. The electronic submission of each is required by the due date for proposal submission.

Proposal due dates are given in the NRA and the solicited research response area appendices, which will be posted at http://nspires.nasaprs.com. Interested proposers should monitor http://nspires.nasaprs.com or register and subscribe to the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) electronic notifications system through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) account subscription services. New solicited research opportunities or amendments to this NRA through July 2016 will be posted in NSPIRES, after which time release of a subsequent HERO NRA is planned.

All categories of United States (U.S.) institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to the NRA. Principal Investigators may collaborate with universities, Federal Government laboratories, the private sector, and state and local government laboratories. In all such arrangements, the applying entity is expected to be responsible for administering the project according to the management approach presented in the proposal. NASA’s policy is to conduct research with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative, no exchange-of-funds basis.”

Come join us at the upcoming Career and Grants Exposition at the Pratt & Whitney Museum and Hangar this September! For more information, visit the Career and Grants Expo event page on our site. To sign up, please use the links in the banner at the top of our page under the menubar.

Included in this week’s NASA Update is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the SpaceX CRS-7 mission:

“We are disappointed in the loss of the latest SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. However, the astronauts are safe aboard the station and have sufficient supplies for the next several months. We will work closely with SpaceX to understand what happened, fix the problem and return to flight. The commercial cargo program was designed to accommodate loss of cargo vehicles. We will continue operation of the station in a safe and effective way as we continue to use it as our test bed for preparing for longer duration missions farther into the solar system.

“A Progress vehicle is ready to launch July 3, followed in August by a Japanese HTV flight. Orbital ATK, our other commercial cargo partner, is moving ahead with plans for its next launch later this year.

“SpaceX has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first six cargo resupply missions to the station, and we know they can replicate that success. We will work with and support SpaceX to assess what happened, understand the specifics of the failure and correct it to move forward. This is a reminder that spaceflight is an incredible challenge, but we learn from each success and each setback. Today’s launch attempt will not deter us from our ambitious human spaceflight program.”

The Connecticut Space Grant office is sorry for the failed launch and supports SpaceX in moving forward. Good luck!

]]>0adminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=23242015-06-25T15:13:09Z2015-06-25T15:12:54ZSpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to launch this upcoming Sunday, June 28 at 10:21 AM on their seventh mission to bring supplies to restock the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is set to take place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This mission is especially of concern for the CT Space Grant because students from Hartford’s Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School took part in the Students Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), developing a mini-lab to be conducted up in space. The school also took part in SSEP’s Mission Patch Art and Design Competition, picking one out of many student submissions to represent the school on the flight. The winning entry (pictured below) was chosen for its meaning to the school and to the school’s project. Congratulations to the school and its students for both the scientific and artistic accomplishments!

“Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people’s lives across the world; therefore I added a heart to show the importance of our mission. The 1 and 2 show the two different types of diabetes. The blood cells and sugar are what diabetes affects the most. The way dirt is floating around represents the microgravity environment. The yellow rays and silver dots are the reproduction of synthetic insulin on its maiden voyage to the International Space Station. Finally, the STEM shows how Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School will be soaring to new heights and helping to find a cure to a worldwide crisis – diabetes.”

Weather forecasters predict favorable weather for the date of the launch. You can watch NASA TV’s live coverage of the launch here.

Auburn University and NASA are hosting a one day educational and networking session on quality assurance for academic space projects and payloads including small SAT, cube SAT, rocket and high altitude balloon. This event is part of the NASA Academy of Aerospace Quality (AAQ) at Auburn University (Alice Smith and Jeff Smith, PIs) sponsored by NASA HQ. There will be presentations by NASA experts and by veteran academic leaders of space bound projects. Networking will be facilitated to share lessons learned and best practices.

The workshop will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at NASA Marshall Flight Center’s Training Center in Huntsville, AL from approximately 8 AM until 3:30 PM.

The target audience includes engineering academics who are interested in learning more about quality assurance for academic payload projects. Students are welcome to attend with a participating faculty member.

Presentation and poster opportunities also exist – see the registration page for details.

No registration fee is charged, but spaces are limited, and we have some travel stipends available for selected participants.

Please apply using the link below if you are interested in attending with your name, affiliation and title, and a brief statement on why you would like to attend. Also state whether you wish to be considered for a travel stipend. Applications should be made by July 1 for full consideration and attendees being awarded travel stipends will be notified by July 15.

]]>0adminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=23032015-05-13T14:30:30Z2015-05-13T14:21:26ZAttention all K-12 teachers and students: Put your engineering skills to the test and try your hand at NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation’s 3-D Space Container Challenge!

NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation are challenging K-12 students to create a model of a container for space using 3-D modeling software. Astronauts need containers of all kinds — from advanced containers for studying fruit flies to simple containers for collecting Mars rocks or storing an astronaut’s food. The ability to 3-D print containers in space — on demand — will let humans venture farther into space. That’s why we are challenging students to start designing for space now.

Design entries could be for a container designed for microgravity on the International Space Station or a container designed for future astronauts on Mars! Space is a big place, but your imagination is even bigger. Multiple prizes, based on age groups, are available.

The Design a Space Container Challenge is the second in a series of challenges where students in grades K-12 create and submit a digital 3-D model of a container that they think astronauts might need in space. Future Engineers is a multiyear education initiative that consists of 3-D space challenges and curriculum videos that parents and educators can use to get kids designing today.

]]>0adminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=22992015-05-12T14:48:07Z2015-05-12T14:47:35ZHere are NASA’s latest highlights for the week of 5/08/15! SMD Weekly Highlights (5.8.15)dpi1
]]>0adminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=22932015-05-05T15:08:35Z2015-05-05T14:48:09ZEnter a video submission into the #StudentAstronaut Contest for a chance to feature on FOX’s STEM based TV series “Xploration Outer Space” alongside host Emily Calandrelli!

]]>0adminhttp://ctspacegrant.org/?p=22812015-04-21T15:04:39Z2015-04-21T15:02:25ZOn Wednesday April 29th, Dr. Sara Seager will be giving a lecture (at Wesleyan University) about life on other planets. This is not one to miss! Check out the poster (below) for more details.